Loading apparatus



.May 30, 1944.

H. w. MORGAN 2,350,181

LOADING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 30, 1942 May 30, 1944. y H, w MORGAN 2,350,181

' LOADING APPARATUS Filed March 30, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 30, 1944 Vassisi LOAD'ENG APPARATUS Harry Wadsworth Morgan, Wilmington, Del., as-

signor to Triumph Explosives, Inc., Elkton, Md., a corporation of Maryland Appiication March 30, 1942, sensi. No. 436,867 a claims. (c1. iis-'315 This invention relates to ammunition loading apparatus' and more particularly to apparatus for receiving projectiles or shellswhile they are being illled` with molten` explosive material.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide novel and improved apparatus for use While load-ing shells with molten explosive material.

More particularly it is an object of the invention to provide means for sealing the fuse opening of a hollow projectile While molten explosive is being poured into the opposite end of the same.

It is a further object ofthe invention to provide apparatus for sealing the loweropening of and supporting a hollow projectile-while the same isl being charged with a molten explosive.

As an important feature of the invention may be mentioned the provision of an extension on v thev fusel opening plug of a core or' former member adapted to provide a recess in the explosive 4material, after the' same has hardened, of an appropriate size toY accommodate portions of the fuse and the booster associated therewith.

Another important feature of the invention comprises the arrangement of a plurality of com'- bined plugs and formers on a suitablev mounting base together with mechanism for simultaneously actuating the plug expanding means which serve to seal the threads of the fuse opening against the entrance of the molten explosive material.

Other and further objects and features of the invention will beA more apparent to those sinned in theart upon a consideration of the accompanying drawings and following specification wherein is disclosed aI single exemplary embodifment of the invention with the understanding that such modifications may be made therein as fall within the scope of the appended claims without departing from-'the spiritthereof.A

In sai-ddrawings: i

Figure l is a plan view of apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention and having the central portion in horizontal section just below the` level of the cover plate to illustrate mechanism beneath the same;

liigureVv 2 is a vertical section in the plane of line 2-2 of Figure-1; Y

Figure 3 is an enlargedA vertical section through one of the combined plug mould devices and its associated base mechanism with the projectile 53 shown thereon as initially positioned; and

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3 showing the plug mechanism expanded to seal the threads fof the fuse opening inthe projectile.

Numerous methods have been suggested and 55 actually used for charging high explosive material into projectiles such as artillery shells, aeroplane bombs,4 grenades, mines and the like, but most of these have not been wholly satisfactory because of difficulties or'dangers encountered in their use or because of theu relatively slow operations necessary in carrying out the same. v

In accordance with the present invention. an

`improved method and apparatus for carrying out the same is provided whereby the shells may be loaded without the diiculties and dangers encountered in previous methods and with greater rapidity, accuracy and ease.

The method of the presentY invention and the apparatus for use therewithY is applicable only to shells or projectiles adapted to be charged with an explosive material inV the molten `form and' in which openings are provided at both ends. Where such shells have been loaded heretofore it has 4been necessary to plug one opening thereof and to pour the explosive in the opposite opening, but the means -forclosing the lower opening were engageable with the threads thereof by a slow threading `operation in order to fill the threads and preventfthe entrance of the explosive material into the same. These threadsv which normally accommodate the fuse are quite lengthy to provide' suitable strength for retaining the iuse at the instant of explosion andihence necessitated a number of turns oi the plug for seating therein. The individual plugs did not provide for supporting the shells nor did they always .ensurea suitable aperture or recess in the explosive material to receive the booster associated with the fuse. It is` highlyimportant that this recess be provided during the pouring and that it be accurately centered and sized tojust receivethe booster and yet eliminate the possibility of frictional contact therewith during the operation of screwing the fuse inY position. If the cavity for the-booster is not provided during the moulding, a slow and highly dangerous drilling operation to provide it has been followed.4

In accordance 4with the present invention a mechanism is provided for supporting and plugging'and forming the booster cavity in a plurality of projectiles simultaneously. For a better understanding of the same, reference should he had tothe accompanying drawingsY First considering FiguresS and4 4. `Here the pcrtionof the projectile which. cooperates with the apparatus of the present invention4 is illustra-ted. The shell proper shown at lil is provided with an enlarged central chamber. Il into which it is desired to fill the molten explosive material.

kindividual devices will be rst described and the assembly of the same detailed'. Y

*the explosive. l

fthe lower end 21 of the Vhead have ilat faces con- The nose I2 of the Shen is axiauy bored at la and threaded as at I5 to receive the shank of 1 a suitable fuse (not shown) The fuse cooperates with a booster which extends into the cavity Il for a substantial distance and provision must be The base plate I6 of the apparatus is provided jectile supporting devices'andA into this aperture iits thelower enlarged end I8 of a cylindrical stud 'I9 equipped with the wide radial ange 20 in-the lower endof the projectile.

sliding ji'ltfthe stem 24 having attached'at its upperend the head or mould 25 of exactly the shape and sizefydesiredfor'the booster recess in The topgend 26 of the stud and fronting each other and resting on opposite sur- Vfaces of an interposed resilient gasket or washer -fperforated to ltover the stem 24 as clearly In'its relaxed Vform this washer also shown. loosely iitsl thethreaded bore and is so positioned longitudinally that its upper surface is slightly `above the ends of the" threads I5, as a, resultof the noseend 3| Aof the projectile restingron the V"uppervsurface of the flange Aas an entrance limiting means. y y

If after setting a projectile over the stud' a downward tension be applied to the stem 24 the head 25 will be drawn toward the upper end' of the stud compressing the washer longitudinally and expanding the samev laterally to closely en# gage into the threads I5ass`hown at 33efe'cting,

atjtheir exact upperend, a close seal imperviousv to ',thefviscous" moltenexplosive which mayv be TNT` or some material of a like nature. The'outlside conguration of the head or former 25 is such as to determine the proper size of` recess for thev booster, but its lower'end is enlarged-vas at '3,4 to the same diameter as the stud whereby "bettercompression of the gasketis had. It will be' noticed that during the tensioning operation of ithe-stemktha-t the gasket is enlarged and at the same time reduced in thickness. vWith the drawing-down of the head 25 the gasket engages thethreads and tends to hold the projectile down f with its nose tightly against the ilange 20 so that it is rigidly 'supported against any displacement during the pouring operation. y

f `As simple means for providing I the' relative movement'between the head and the stud necessaryjto compress the gasket, the stem 2'4'is shown ias attened to be received in a kerfL 36 of a'cam Aelement 31'pivoted at 38 to the lower end of the stem and having the eccentric arcuate surface 38'A engaging against the portion I8V ofthe stud.

I nfthelrelaxedxcondition of the gasket the cam assumes the position shown in Figure 3, while when the same is rotated through an angle of approximately to the position shown in Figiure 4, it provides the necessary amount 0f Stem with a circular aperture l1 vforeach ofthe pro-f,"

adapted to rest en the surface' of the base plate and be secured thereto by fasteningfelements 22. fThe'stud I9 .isfof'sucha diameter as to have a free fit into thethreads I5 of the fuse opening It is centrally drilled as at 23 to Vaccommodate with a of the cams.

The base plate is supportedby peripheral angle bars 43 and 44 suitably secured thereto as by welding or otherwise to form in eiect a hollow inverted pan. The lower flanges of the angles may be drilled to accommodate fastening devices if necessary. f

Four rows of six studs each are illustrated in Figure l. Here it will be noted that the actuating rods 4 I which passthrough'the cams 31`conneet these cams inv pairs, one in each adjacent row. Each vvrod -`4I passes loosely throughan opening in a longitudinal bar member 46 as shown. One of. these r'bars' runs between each pair of stud rows whereby longitudinal movement of the same will actuate' ther several cams to either tensioned or released position.

The two bars'4'6 shown in Figure 1 are connected together Aby a transverse member 41 as clearly seen in Figures' 1 and 2 and provision is made to move this rod' member laterally by the action of apivoted lever "48 mounted near the center of the plate.' The lowerl end of'the lever is equipped with" an'enl'arged head 49 which is `bifurcatedy providing'the two' spaced' arms `5l) and '50'. A casting 53 isv secured to thebas'eplate I6 by fastening elements 54 passing through flanges 55 thereon. The base plate is provided with an appropriate opening 6Il'to` accommodate thedepending wings of the flanges 55 which receive the pivotpins 5I cooperating with'` arms 50 and 50 well below/the surface of the base plate.' The forked 1member 49 `nts in the opening 52 :in cast- -ing' 53'Iand there carries a movable pivot pin 6I which engages one vend of a link 62 which passes through the Vslot between the-arms 5|)v and 5D and whose other end is journalled on the mem'- An inspection of Figure 2 will show that when the vlever is in the position illustrated in solid lines the rigid link 62 has moved' the cross member 41 to its. maximumV left-hand position setting all the cams at their 'released position.

`When the le'ver is pulledto the rightto the dotted line positionillustrated inl Figure 2, the link 62 is placed under tension; moves the member 41 to the rightV and places all of the cams in their gasket expanding position. The leverj 48 in reaching the dotted line position, 'where it is stopped against a portion of the casting 53, carries the pivot `pin `EI `for the f right hand `end of the link from one side of the pivot (pins 5I to the opposite thereby causing the link topassV over dead centerand` lock the lever in the right-hand position so thatlit can be released by the operator and still retain the gasketsv 'all compressed to secure a plurality of shells in position for loadng. i

The molten material is now poured.' into each of the shells'by 'appropriate apparatus and the whole mechanism just described is set aside until the material has cooledand hardened when a releasing of the lever allows the Agaskets to return to their relaxed condition so that the shells are free to be removed in their finished form with the proper shaped recesses in the now hardened explosive material of just the proper size, shape and central location to closely receive the boosters associated with the fuses. The threads 'of the fuse openings are entirely clean because the explosive material has been carefully excluded from them during the pouring.

The whole apparatus is simple, cheap and effective and can be used by unskilled labor with no chance of making a mistake in operation.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Shell loading apparatus comprising, in combination, a hollow base including a flat top plate having a plurality of holes arranged in parallel rows, a plug and mould for the fuse opening of a hollow projectile while filling the same with a molten explosive being provided for each hole; said plugs and moulds each including a hollow stud adapted to freely enter said opening. a. mounting ange on said stud secured to the plate, covering one of the holes and positioned to limit the stud entrance into the shell opening, a stem slidable through said stud and having a head extending beyond the outer end of the stud, a resilient washer on said stem between the head and stud, means to tension the stem to compress the washer longitudinally and expand thesame laterally to engage the Walls of the opening; an operating lever pivotally mounted on said plate, and linkage associating each of said means with said lever for simultaneous expansion of said washers.

2. Shell loading apparatus comprising, in combination, a hollow base including a dat top plate having a plurality of holes arranged in parallel rows, a plug and mould for the fuse opening of a hollow projectile while filling the same with a molten explosive being provided for each hole; said plugs and moulds each including a hollow stud adapted to freely enter said opening, a

mounting ange on said stud secured to the plate, covering one of the holes and positioned to limit the stud entrance into the shell opening, a stem slidable through said stud and having a head extending beyond the outer end of the stud, a resilient washer on said stem between the head and stud, means to tension the stem to compress the washer longitudinally and expand the same laterally to engage the Walls of the opening; an operating lever pivotally mounted on said plate, cross rods connecting said means in pairs, longitudinal members connecting the rods, an operating lever, and link means associating said members and lever whereby all washers are compressed simul taneously by movement ofthe lever.

3. Shell loading apparatus comprising, in combination, a Yhollow base including a at top plate having a plurality of holes arranged in parallel rows, a plug and mould for the fuse opening of a hollow projectile while filling the same with a molten explosive being provided for each hole; said plugs and moulds each including a hollow stud adapted to freely enter said opening, a mounting ange on said stud secured to the plate, covering one of the holes and positioned to limit the stud entrance into the shell opening, a stem slidable through said stud and having a head extending beyond the outer end of the stud, a resilient washer on said stem between the head and stud, means to tension the stem to compress the washer longitudinally and expand the same laterally to engage the walls of the opening; an operatlng lever pivotally mounted on said plate, cross rods connecting said means in pairs, longitudinal members connecting the rods, an operating lever, and link means associating said members and lever whereby all washers are compressed simultaneously by movement of the lever. said lever and link having pivots arranged to move over center to lock the lever in compression position.

HARRY WADSWORTH MORGAN. 

